These amazing images show how a lion plummeted to the ground after launching herself from the top of a 30ft oak tree in a baffling stunt.

The female lion first stunned keepers at Longleat Safari Park in Warminster, Wiltshire, by leading two other lions to the top of the tree, which is much bigger than they would normally climb.

One of the lions was even spotted giving its friend a leg-up. But staff watched open mouthed when the animal then jumped from its perch 30ft up as space at the top got a little scarce.

Unusual sight: The female lion first stunned keepers at Longleat Safari Park in Warminster, Wiltshire, by leading two other lions to the top of the tree, which is much bigger than they would normally climb

Down we go: One of the lions was even spotted giving its friend a
leg-up. But staff watched open mouthed when the enormous beast then
jumped from its perch 30ft up as space at the top got a little scarce

The big cat landed on all fours just
like domestic cats do when they fall. Two of the fearless lions jumped
from the top of the tree but the third was less brave and opted to climb
down instead.

Keeper Ian
Turner had been taking photographs of lion cubs venturing outside for
the first time, when he spotted the strange scene unfolding nearby in the
park's lion enclosure.

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He
said: ‘One female seemed to be the leader and she went up first, then
once she had reached the top the other two just followed her up. It's
not unusual for one or other of the lions to climb up one of the smaller
trees, but this wasn't a small tree.

‘There
wasn't a lot of room at the top and we just expected them to climb back
down again. However they seemed to have a different idea, and the first
female simply leapt off the top.

On the ground: The big cat landed on all fours just like domestic cats do when they fall. Two of the fearless lions jumped from the top of the tree but the third was less brave and opted to climb down instead

Caught on camera: Keeper Ian Turner had been taking photographs of lion cubs venturing outside for the first time, when he spotted the strange scene unfolding nearby in the park's lion enclosure

'It all happened very quickly, but looking at the images afterwards you can see that just like a domestic cat she was able to rotate her legs around in mid-air and land on all four paws.

'It's something none of us have ever witnessed before and it was just total coincidence that I was there and able to capture it'

Ian Turner, Longleat Safari Park keeper

‘The second lion soon followed her down in similar fashion, but the third one was a lot less confident. After spending several minutes alone up there, she decided to climb back down.

‘It's something none of us have ever witnessed before and it was just total coincidence that I was there and able to capture it.’

Female lions usually reach their full size by the age of three, and adult lions can weigh up to 450lbs.